Astros president defends high prices for opener

Astros CEO George Postolos backed the high prices for this season's opening game.

Astros CEO George Postolos backed the high prices for this season's...

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – A $130 ticket to watch the Astros' 2013 regular-season opener? The same price for one seat in the club level? Or $100 just to sit in the Crawford Boxes and view the Astros' nationally televised American League debut March 31 against the Texas Rangers at Minute Maid Park?

The steep prices fall more in line with the cost of watching premier clubs, such as the New York Yankees, up close. Even paying more than $50 for an Astros ticket could be difficult for many to consider. The team has been the worst in baseball two consecutive years, struggled to even partially fill its ballpark at the end of 2012 and will post the lowest payroll in MLB this season.

But Astros president George Postolos said Thursday prices for the Astros-Rangers opener on March 31 are simply a reflection of demand and the club's increased emphasis on dynamic pricing, which will be used more often in 2013 and in all areas of the stadium for the first time. The Astros' 2013 home-opener and AL debut is also MLB's season-opener. Thus, the March 31 high ticket costs are an anomaly. The Astros aren't increasing single-game prices this season, season-ticket costs have remained the same and the club still offers $5 outfield seats – even for its marquee March 31 showing.

"(Dymanic pricing) makes the biggest difference when you have a major event and we have a major event at the start of the 2013 season," Postolos said. "We've been doing this for a couple of years. But people really haven't noticed before because we haven't had a game like this."

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The higher costs for marquee games aren't limited to the opener, however. When the Yankees come to town in September, prices are higher in all seats except the outfield deck, with the top ticket going for $73 compared with a base price of $56 for other games. Certain other games with the Rangers during the season will be at the same scale as well, depending on the day of the week.

The Angels and Tigers (up to $70) and Red Sox (up to $66) also see dynamic increases.

Season-ticket retention

Individual game tickets go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. on Monday. Base prices are unchanged from 2012. Club level seats are $58, while dugout-area tickets are $56. The prices are more than 50 percent less than costs for the Astros' season-opener.

"We still have the family-friendly prices," Postolos said. "It's just for this game, people want the best inventory. It's either going to be brokers that buy it and sell it on the secondary market or you can buy it from us. And we prefer to have you deal with us."

Despite the Astros' well-documented struggles the last two seasons, Postolos said season-ticket retention is the highest in several years and expected to approach 90 percent. Postolos credited increased emphasis on fan interaction, which has included owner Jim Crane, general manager Jeff Luhnow and Postolos appearing at more than 50 season-ticket holder events during the past year.

Changes at Minute Maid

The Astros are making significant changes to their ballpark in time for the club's AL debut.

Among the alterations: a $2.5 million upgrade for the exclusive access Diamond Club-area behind home plate; a Minute Maid rebranding, which includes a new interior paint scheme and logo/signage changes; remodeling the Astros' clubhouse; renovating the fourth floor of Union Station; direct responsibility over stadium retail and merchandise areas.

But the biggest changes could come after the 2013 season. Postolos acknowledged the Astros may still alter Tal's Hill and the train above left field, while the Bud Patio area near center field will likely be revamped.

Removing the flagpole and flattening the hill in center field aren't the only options. As the Astros' team evolves, the organization will consider changing the depth of center, which is 436 feet from home plate at its deepest point.

"Very few balls are hit out in center field," Postolos said. "That's something we'll be talking to Jeff about. Does that give us an advantage? Does that give us a disadvantage?"

Spring training options

The Astros' spring training run and AL move have increased talk the club could leave Kissimmee when its lease expires in 2016. Crane, who has business ties in Florida, will guide any decision. But Postolos acknowledged the Astros will "definitely" explore their alternatives.

"It's just making sure we have the most attractive situation for spring training for our players and our fans," he said.

As for the Astros potentially moving to Port St. Lucie, Fla., which currently houses the New York Mets?

"They're talking to every team in baseball," Postolos said. "They have a lease coming up soon and they want to make sure there's a critical mass of teams down there. I know they'd like to get another team."

Hopeful on Comcast

Thursday's Yankees-Astros spring training game marked the start of Astros TV broadcasts by Comcast SportsNet Houston. The channel is only available to 40 percent of the area market, due to a carriage dispute involving satellite carriers such as DirecTV and Dish Network.

Postolos said in early February he believed an agreement would be reached by April 2, which marks the Astros' first non-ESPN televised game. With a month to go, Postolos again expressed optimism.